April 14, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Ty France's single drove home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as San Diego State defeated No. 19 UC Irvine, 4-3, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory the Aztecs improved to 27-11 while the Anteaters, who lost for just the second time in their last 17 contests, fell to 21-12.
UCI had the upper hand early in the game as it opened the first inning with a run on a two-out single by Andrew Martinez. The Anteaters upped their advantage to 3-0 two innings later as a pair of walks were cashed in with a two-RBI double off the bat of Mitchell Holland. On an ensuing single, Holland tried to score from second, but was thrown out at the plate by SDSU right fielder Chase Calabuig.
Those runs came against SDSU starter Cody Thompson, but after that third inning rally the visitors were unable to do anything against the sophomore right-hander as he retired 12 in a row from the fourth through seventh frames. He would depart the contest after seven innings having allowed the three runs on five hits while striking out eight.
The Aztecs tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Seby Zavala, RBI double by Danny Sheehan and a run-scoring single by Andrew Brown to make it 3-3.
UC Irvine tried to rally in the top of the ninth, putting men at first and third with two out against reliever Brian Heldman. Jacob Erickson was then summoned from the bullpen and he needed only one pitch to induce a fly ball to center field to end the threat.
In the bottom of the inning, Spencer Thornton led off with a walk, but was forced at second on Alan Trejo's sacrifice bunt attempt. Calabuig then beat out an infield single sending Trejo to second before France hit a 1-2 pitch up the middle to drive home Trejo with the game-winning run.
Erickson would be credited with the win to even his record at 1-1 with UCI's Sam Moore (3-3) taking the loss.
Calabuig ended the contest with three hits including a double and run scored while Brown registered a pair of hits with a double.
San Diego State will now prepare for a big weekend series as it hosts Nevada this weekend with the first game scheduled for Friday, April 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs enter the weekend in first place in the conference standings with a one-game lead over the Wolf Pack.